Electric vehicle and method for actuating same

ABSTRACT

An electric vehicle comprising a battery charges the battery through an electric vehicle power supply device, and transmits to a user terminal device a first charging information notification message, which includes information on a current charging status of the battery. The electric vehicle detects an interruption to the charging of the battery on the basis of the current charging status of the battery, and checks the cause for the interruption to the charging of the battery. When the interruption to the charging of the battery is detected, the electric vehicle transmits to the user terminal device a second charging information notification message, comprising information on battery charging status that indicates the interruption to the charging of the battery and charging error information that indicates the cause of the interruption to the charging of the battery.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an electric vehicle and an operatingmethod thereof, and particularly, to a method of charging a battery ofan electric vehicle.

In order to control global warming through the G20 and G8 countries, asmart grid solution and real-time use of an electric vehicle aresuggested to reduce CO2.

An electronic vehicle includes at least one electric motor using anelectrical energy of a rechargeable battery. This rechargeable batterymay be connected to an electric outlet in order for recharging. Ingeneral, it takes a few hours to charge a battery of an electricvehicle. During this process, a user may want to obtain severalinformation.

Moreover, electric grids may have a time interval at which an electricaldemand exceeds a limitation. In order to prevent this, constructing apower plant additionally may rather disturb the reduction of CO2.Accordingly, adaptively coping with the demand of electricity by using alarge capacity battery of an electric vehicle is required.

For this, users, electric vehicles, and electric power supply facilitiesmay need to exchange information. To this end, various communicationtechniques may be used.

A wireless home area network (W-HAN), a wireless personal area network(W-PAN), and a wireless frequency transceiver perform communicationthrough a wireless frequency in a short distance area between devices. AZigbee transceiver may be used as an example. Zigbee is a standardprotocol designed for wireless frequency communication in a shortdistance area. The Zigbee transceiver establishes a mesh network on thebasis of IEEE 802.15.4.

A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver performs communicationthrough a wireless frequency between devices away from each other bymore than 10 m. A Wi-Fi device may be used as an example. The Wi-Fidevice follows the IEEE 802.11 standards.

A power line communication (PLC) technique may be used to establish anetwork between devices through a power line. This technique is limitedto an area of up to 100 m.

A wide area network (WAN) is a communication network covering a widearea. The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), thatis, a standard protocol, may be used as an example. Additionally, a CDMAor GSM network may be used as an example of a wireless broadbandnetwork.

In order to adaptively cope with the demand of electricity by using ahigh capacity battery of an electric vehicle, demands for exchanginginformation between users, electric vehicles, and electric power supplyfacilities are emerging.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a device, system, and method for adaptively copingwith the demand of electricity by exchanging various information betweenpower use subjects such as users, electric vehicles, and electric powersupply facilities.

In one embodiment, an operating method of an electric vehicle includinga battery is provided. The method includes: charging the battery throughan electric vehicle power supply device; checking an current state ofcharging of the battery; transmitting a first charging informationnotification message including information on the current state ofcharging of the battery to a user terminal device; detecting a charginginterruption of the battery; and if the charging interruption of thebattery is detected, transmitting a second charging informationnotification message indicating the charging interruption of the batteryto the user terminal device.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network topology according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an EV according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an EV battery management deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an EV battery management deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an UTD according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a ladder diagram illustrating a charging method of an EVaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a screen displayed on an UTD according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a screen displayed on an UTD according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a screen displayed on an UTD according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal relating to the present invention isdescribed in more detail with reference to the drawings. The suffixes“module” and “unit” for components used in the description below areassigned or mixed in consideration of easiness in writing thespecification and , do not have distinctive meanings or roles bythemselves.

Especially, an electric power source in the specification represents anelectric power transmitter and an electric power sink represents anelectric power receiver.

Then, a network topology according to an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network topology according to anembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network topology includes an electric vehicle100, an electric vehicle power supplying device 200, a user terminaldevice 500, a power supply facility 600, and a telematics serviceproviding server 700.

For convenience of description, the following abbreviations are usedtogether. An electric vehicle is referred to as its acronym, that is, anEV. Additionally, an electric power supplying device is referred to asan EVSE, that is, the acronym of electric vehicle supply equipment. Auser terminal device is referred to as its acronym, that is, an UTD. Atelematics service providing server is referred to as TSP, that is, theacronym of a telematics service provider.

Then, an EV 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention willbe described with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an EV according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the EV 100 includes a battery 140, acharging/discharging point 150, and an EV battery management device 170.The charging/discharging point 150 may correspond to an SAE J1772connector such as an SAE J1772 inlet. The SAE J1772 regulates generalphysical and electrical requirements and performance requirementsassisting the inductive charging of an EV/PHEV in North America.Especially, the SAE J1772 regulates common inductive charging methods ofEVs/PHEVs and power supply equipment vehicles in addition to functionand specification requirements and operational requirements of vehicleinsertions and connectors paring therewith.

Then, an EV battery management device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an EV battery management deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

The EV battery management device 170 is built in the EV 100 and includesa display unit 171, a control unit 172, and at least one communicationmodule 173. The control unit 172 displays a processing status, a systemstatus such as a communication status, and a charging status on thedisplay unit 171. The control unit 172 may control overall management ofthe battery 140 of the EV 100 and may communicate with an EVSE 200, anUTD 500, a power supply facility 600, a TSP 700 through the at least onecommunication module 173. The control unit 172 may perform chargingmanagement, discharging management, scheduling, and price comparison.The at least one communication module 173 may include at least one of awired internet interface unit, a WWAN transceiver, a WHAN transceiver, aPLC module, and a WLAN transceiver

Hereinafter, communicating with the UTD 500 by the EV battery managementdevice 170 of the EV 100 includes communicating with the UTD 500 throughboth the EVSE 200 and the TSP 700 by the EV battery management device170 of the EV 100, communicating with the UTD 500 through the TSP 700not the EVSE 200 by the EV battery management device 170 of the EV 100,communicating with the UTD 500 through the EVSE 200 not the TSP 700 bythe EV battery management device 170 of the EV 100, and communicatingwith the UTD 500 not through both the EVSE 200 and the TSP 700 by the EVbattery management device 170 of the EV 100. Hereinafter, communicatingwith the UTD 600 by the EV battery management device 170 of the EV 100includes communicating with the UTD 600 through both the EVSE 200 andthe TSP 700 by the EV battery management device 170 of the EV 100,communicating with the UTD 600 through the TSP 700 not the EVSE 200 bythe EV battery management device 170 of the EV 100, communicating withthe UTD 600 through the EVSE 200 not the TSP 700 by the EV batterymanagement device 170 of the EV 100, and communicating with the UTD 600not through both the EVSE 200 and the TSP 700 by the EV batterymanagement device 170 of the EV 100.

Then, an EVSE according to an embodiment of the present invention willbe described with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a display device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The EVSE 200 is used to charge the EV 100 by receiving electricity froma home power storage device 400 and a power supply facility 600 ordischarge the EV 100 by supplying the electricity of the EV 100 to thehome power storage device 400 and the power supply facility 600.

As shown in FIG. 4, the EVSE 200 includes a display unit 210, a controlunit 220, at least one communication module 230, a charging/dischargingpoint 250. The at least one communication module 230 may include atleast one of a wired internet interface unit, a WWAN transceiver, a WHANtransceiver, a PLC module, and a WLAN transceiver The control unit 220displays a charging status, a discharging status, a notificationmessage, and a charging interruption message on the display unit 210.The control unit 220 may communicate with the EV 100, an EV batterymanagement device 170, a home power storage device 400, an UTD 500, anda power supply facility 600 through the at least one communicationmodule 230. The charging/discharging point 250 may correspond to an SAEJ1772 connector such as an SAE J1772 outlet. The charging/dischargingpoint 250 is connected to the charging/discharging point 150 by a user.

Then, the UTD 500 according to an embodiment of the present inventionwill be described with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an UTD according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

The UTD 500 includes a display unit 510, a control unit 520, and atleast one communication module 530. The control unit 520 displaysinformation on billing, pricing, and timing on the display unit 510. Thecontrol unit 520 may communicate with the EV 100, the EVSE 200, the EVbattery management device 170, the home power storage device 400, andthe power supply facility 600 through the at least one communicationmodule 530. The at least one communication module 530 may include atleast one of a wired internet interface unit, a WWAN transceiver, a WHANtransceiver, a PLC module, and a WLAN transceiver

Then, a method of charging the EV 100 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a ladder diagram illustrating a charging method of an EVaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

The control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV100 checks whether the charging/discharging point 150 is connected tothe charging/discharging point 250 of the EVSE 200 in operation S101.

When the charging/discharging point 150 of the EV 100 is connected tothe charging/discharging point 250 of the EVSE 200, the control unit 172of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100 sets acommunication connection with the EVSE 200 in operation S103.

If a communication connection setting is failed, the control unit 172 ofthe EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100 may transmit acharging information notification message including EV chargingsituation information indicating a charging start failure and EVcharging error information indicating a communication connection settingfailure, to the UTD 500. Then, the control unit 172 of the EV batterymanagement device 170 in the EV 100 stops starting the charging of thebattery 140 of the EV 100.

If the communication connection setting is failed, the UTD 500 maydisplay that charging start is failed due to the communicationconnection setting failure between the EV 100 and the EVSE 200.

If the communication connection setting is successful, the control unit172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100 performs anauthentication operation with the EVSE 200 through a set communicationconnection by using SAE J2836-1 and SAE J2847-1. SAE J2836-1 and SAEJ2847-1 regulate the requirements, specifications, and use cases forcommunications between plug-in EVs and electrical power grids in orderfor energy transmission and other applications.

If an authentication is failed, the control unit 172 of the EV batterymanagement device 170 in the EV 100 may transmit a charging informationnotification message including EV charging situation informationindicating a charging start failure and EV charging error informationindicating an authentication failure, to the UTD 500. Then, the controlunit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100 stopsstarting the charging of the battery 140 of the EV 100.

If the authentication is failed, the UTD 500 may display that chargingstart is failed due to the authentication failure between the EV 100 andthe EVSE 200.

The control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV100 checks an initial state of charging (SOC) of the battery 140 inoperation S121. That is, the control unit 172 of the EV batterymanagement device 170 in the EV 100 checks whether the initial SOC ofthe battery 140 corresponds to the maximum charging capacity of thebattery 140.

If the initial SOC of the battery 140 corresponds to the maximumcharging capacity of the battery 140, the control unit 172 of the EVbattery management device 170 in the EV 100 may transmit a charginginformation notification message including EV charging situationinformation indicating a charging start failure and EV charging errorinformation indicating that the initial SOC of the battery 140corresponds to the maximum charging capacity of the battery 140, to theUTD 500. Then, the control unit 172 of the EV battery management device170 in the EV 100 stops starting the charging of the battery 140 of theEV 100.

When the initial SOC of the battery 140 corresponds to the maximumcharging capacity of the battery 140, the UTD 500 may display thatcharging start is failed due to the fact that the initial SOC of thebattery 140 corresponds to the maximum charging capacity of the battery140.

If the initial SOC of the battery 140 is less than the maximum chargingcapacity of the battery 140, the control unit 172 of the EV batterymanagement device 170 in the EV 100 checks whether the EVSE 200 iscapable of providing power to the EV in operation S131.

If the EVSE 200 is not capable of providing power to the EV 100, thecontrol unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100may transmit a charging information notification message including EVcharging situation information indicating a charging start failure andEV charging error information indicating that the EVSE 200 is notcapable of providing power to the EV 100, to the UTD 500. Then, thecontrol unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100stops starting the charging of the battery 140 of the EV 100.

When the EVSE 200 is not capable of providing power to the EV 100, theUTD 400 may display charging start is failed due to the fact that theEVSE 200 is not capable of providing power to the EV 100.

Moreover, the control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170in the EV 100 transmits a power policy request message to the powersupply facility 600 in operation S141.

Upon the receipt of the power policy request message from the EV 100,the power supply facility 600 transmits a power policy response messageincluding information on a power policy to the EV 100 in operation S143.At this point, the information on a power policy may include at leastone of information on a power sale available time zone, information on apower purchase available time zone, and information on a TOU electricityprice. The power sale available time zone is a time zone in which thepower supply facility 600 is capable of selling power to the outside andthe power purchase available time zone is a time zone in which the powersupply facility 600 is capable of purchasing power from the outside. TheTOU electricity price may include part or all of information on a TOUelectricity sale price and information on a TOU electricity purchaseprice. The TOU electricity sale price is a price of when the powersupply facility 600 sells electricity to the outside and the TOUelectricity purchase price is a price of when the power supply facility600 purchases electricity from the outside.

When the EVSE 200 is capable of providing power to the EV 100, thecontrol unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100checks whether a TOU electricity price is valid in operation S145. If aTOU electricity price at the current time is equal to or less than anelectricity price that a user wants, the control unit 172 of the EVbattery management device 170 in the EV 100 may determine that the TOUelectricity price is valid. If the TOU electricity price at the currenttime is greater than the electricity price that the user wants, thecontrol unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100may determine that the TOU electricity price is invalid.

If the TOU electricity price is invalid, the control unit 172 of the EVbattery management device 170 in the EV 100 may transmit a charginginformation notification message including EV charging statusinformation indicating a charging start failure and EV charging errorinformation indicating the TOU electricity price is invalid, to the UTD500. Then, the control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170in the EV 100 stops starting the charging of the battery 140 of the EV100.

If the TOU electricity price is invalid, the UTD 500 may display thatcharging start is failed due to the fact that the TOU electricity priceis invalid.

If a TOU electricity price is valid, the control unit 172 of the EVbattery management device 170 in the EV 100 starts charging the battery140 by using the power of the power supply facility 600 through the EVSE200 in operation S151.

The control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV100 checks the charge start time of the battery 140 in operation S152.

Then, the control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 inthe EV 100 transmits a charging information notification message to theUTD 500 in operation S153. The charging information notification messagemay include charging information on charging of an EV battery. At thispoint the charging information may include part or all of an initialSOC, a current SOC, a charge start time, an estimated charge end time,an actual charge end time, an EV charging status, and EV charging errorinformation

Especially, at this point, the current SOC may be identical to theinitial SOC; an EV charging status may indicate charging start; and theEV charging error information may indicate no charging error.

Upon the receipt of a charging information notification message, the UTD500 displays charging information therein in operation S159.

The UTD 500 may display part or all of an initial SOC, a current SOC, acharge start time, and an estimated charge end time and also may displaythat charging starts and there is no error in charging.

The control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV100 checks the current SOC of the battery 140 during chargingperiodically in operation S161.

The control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV100 predicts the estimated charge end time of the battery 140 on thebasis of the current SOC and charging speed of the battery 140 inoperation S162.

During charging, the control unit 172 of the EV battery managementdevice 170 in the EV 100 transmits a charging information notificationmessage to the UTD 500 in operation S163. The EV 100 may transmit thecharging information notification message to the UTD 500 periodically.The charging information notification message may include charginginformation on charging of an EV battery. At this point the charginginformation may include part or all of an initial SOC, a current SOC, acharge start time, an estimated charge end time, an EV charging status,and EV charging error information

The EV charging status may indicate charging in progress and the EVcharging error information may indicate no charging error.

Upon the receipt of a charging information notification message, the UTD500 displays charging information therein in operation S169.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a screen displayed on an UTD according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the UTD 500 may display part or all of an initialSOC, a current SOC, a charge start time, and an estimated charge endtime and also may display that charging is in progress and there is noerror in charging.

The control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV100 detects the charging interruption of the battery 140 on the basis ofthe current SOC of the battery 140 in operation S171.

If the charging interruption of the battery 140 is detected, the controlunit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100 stopscharging the battery 140 and checks the cause of the charginginterruption of the battery 140 in operation S173.

If the charging interruption of the battery 140 is detected, the controlunit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100 transmitsa charging information notification message to the UTD 500 in operationS175. The charging information notification message may include charginginformation on charging of an EV battery. At this point the charginginformation may include part or all of an initial SOC, a current SOC, acharge start time, an estimated charge end time, an actual charge endtime, an EV charging status, and EV charging error information

Especially, at this point, the EV charging status may indicate chargingstop due to interruption after charging start is successful and the EVcharging error information may indicate the cause of charginginterruption. The cause of charging interruption in the EV 100 may be anEVSE incapable of providing power during charging and an unplugged plug.

Upon the receipt of a charging information notification message, the UTD500 displays charging information therein in operation S179.

The UTD 500 may display part or all of an initial SOC, a current SOC, acharge start time, an estimated charge end time, and an actual chargeend time and also may display charging stop due to interruption aftercharging start is successful and the cause of charging interruption ofthe EV 100.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a screen displayed on an UTD according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the UTD 500 may display charging stop due tointerruption after charging start is successful, the cause of charginginterruption of the EV 100, an initial SOC, a current SOC, and a chargestart time.

Again, FIG. 6 is described.

The control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV100 detects the charging completion of the battery 140 on the basis ofthe current SOC of the battery 140 in operation S181.

The control unit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV100 checks the actual charge end time of the battery 140 in operationS183.

If the charging completion of the battery 140 is detected, the controlunit 172 of the EV battery management device 170 in the EV 100 transmitsa charging information notification message to the UTD 500 in operationS185. The charging information notification message may include charginginformation on charging of an EV battery. At this point the charginginformation may include part or all of an initial SOC, a current SOC, acharge start time, an estimated charge end time, an actual charge endtime, an EV charging status, and EV charging error information

Especially, at this point, the EV charging status may indicate chargingcompletion and the EV charging error information may indicate nocharging error.

Upon the receipt of a charging information notification message, the UTD500 displays charging information therein in operation S189.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a screen displayed on an UTD according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, the UTD 500 may display part or all of an initialSOC, a current SOC, a charge start time, and an estimated charge endtime, and an actual charge end time and also may display that chargingis completed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by exchangingvarious information between power use subjects such as UTDs, EVs, EVSEs,built-in vehicle communication control devices, home power storagedevices, and power supply facilities, it is possible to adaptively dealdemands for electricity. Thus, this may contribute to the protection ofenvironment.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the above methodalso can be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readablerecording medium having a program recorded thereon. Examples of thecomputer readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, andoptical data storage devices and also include carrier waves (such asdata transmission through the Internet).

The above-described mobile terminal is not applied as limited to theconfigurations and methods of the above embodiments. Some or all of theabove embodiments are selectively combined and configured to providevarious modifications.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An operating method of an electric vehicleincluding a battery, the method comprising: charging the battery throughan electric vehicle power supply device; checking an current state ofcharging of the battery; transmitting a first charging informationnotification message including information on the current state ofcharging of the battery to a user terminal device; detecting a charginginterruption of the battery; and if the charging interruption of thebattery is detected, transmitting a second charging informationnotification message indicating the charging interruption of the batteryto the user terminal device.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe detecting of the charging interruption of the battery comprisesdetecting the charging interruption of the battery on the basis of thecurrent state of charging of the battery.
 3. The method according toclaim 2, further comprising, when the charging interruption of thebattery is detected, checking a cause of the charging interruption ofthe battery, wherein the second charging information notificationmessage comprises information on a battery charging status indicatingthe charging interruption of the battery and charging error informationindicating the cause of the charging interruption of the battery.
 4. Themethod according to claim 3, wherein the second charging informationnotification message further comprises at least one of information onthe initial state of charging of the battery, information on the currentstate of charging of the battery, and information on a charge start timeof the battery.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the firstcharging information notification message further comprises informationon a battery charging status indicating that the battery is charging. 6.The method according to claim 1, further comprising checking an initialstate of charging of the battery, wherein the first charging informationnotification message further comprises information on the initial stateof charging of the battery.
 7. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising checking a charge start time of the battery, wherein thefirst charging information notification message further comprisesinformation on a charge start time of the battery.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 1, further predicting an estimated charge end time ofthe battery on the basis of the current state of charging of thebattery, wherein the first charging information notification messagefurther comprises information on the estimated charge end time of thebattery.
 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingperforming an authentication operation on the electric vehicle powersupply device, wherein the charging of the battery comprises startingcharging the battery if the authentication operation is successful. 10.The method according to claim 9, wherein the performing of theauthentication operation comprises performing the authenticationoperation through SAE J2836-1 and SAE J2847-1.
 11. The method accordingto claim 10, further comprising, when an SAE J1772 connector isconnected, performing a communication connection setting with theelectric vehicle power supply device, wherein the performing of theauthentication operation comprises performing the authenticationoperation when the communication connection setting is successful. 12.The method according to claim 1, wherein the checking of the currentstate of charging of the battery comprises checking the current state ofcharging of the battery periodically, wherein the transmitting of thefirst charging information notification message comprises transmittingthe first charging information notification message to the user terminaldevice periodically.